Disney World and Other Theme Parks Apparently Employing Secret Pedophiles

A sting operation has busted potential child molesters who work at major Florida theme parks.

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A new investigation launched by CNN shows that theme park employees are being arrested — off duty — for either sex crimes against children, intending to have sex with a minor, or possession of child pornography.

According to the report, 35 Disney employees, five Universal Studios employees, and two Seaworld employees have been arrested since 2006. (Four of the Disney employees were arrested in the last five weeks alone). The employees had a variety of jobs — performers, security guards, and costume makers — but in each case, the employees were in contact with children at work.

Sheriff Grady Judd, who spearheaded the operation, notes that all of these cases happened off park grounds, and that none of those arrested were convicted for previous crimes. (It's worth pointing out that Judd's To Catch a Predator-esque techniques in this operation have been questioned and he's somewhat oddly refused to release the full details of the investigation.)

When questioned by CNN, Disney responded: "We have extensive measures in place, including pre-employment and ongoing criminal background checks and computer monitoring and firewalls. The numbers reported by CNN represent one one-hundredth of one percent of the 300,000 people we have employed during this time period. We continue to work closely with law enforcement and organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children [NCMEC] as we constantly strengthen our efforts."

But Ernie Allen, the co-founder of the NCMEC, says that despite the small fraction of employees who pose a threat to children, they're still a real threat.

"Most of those who have criminal records are the dumb ones. They're the ones who've gotten caught. Most of those who prey upon children don't have criminal records," says Allen. "I think there's more that Disney can do. I think there's more that everybody can do. It's hard to imagine a company that's tried harder to address this issue than Disney." So how do you screen for people who have the potential to commit crimes but have clean records?

Sheriff Judd is pushing to allow businesses that deal directly with children — like theme parks, schools, and churches — to give prospective employees polygraph tests, something that's currently illegal for private businesses to do.

Disney, and the other theme parks involved, insist their parks are still safe environments, but I doubt anyone's going to be super psyched to take the family to a place where the dude posing for a picture with their son may or may not be a secret pedophile.